The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-06

General George a. Sheridan on Col
oneI ingersoI at City Hall.

The first lecture in the Y. NJ. c. A. course
was given last evening by General George
A. Sheridan, his announced subject being,
"The Modern Pagan" the real subject be-
ing an answer to the infdel utterances of
Colonel Robert Ingersol. He took the name
of Colonel lngersol because he was the en-
bodiment of the skeptical element of the pc
riod. At the commencement of his lecture he
paid fine compliment to Colonel Ingersors
personal character: but spoke in unsparing
terms of the weakness and sophistory of his
infdel arguments. He referred also to Mr..
IngersoPs cowardice in declining to discus
his opinions with really able opponents; and
mentioned the instances in which he had re-
fused such discussions or had maligned and
slandered those who differed from him. 1t
was not General Sheridan's intention to en-
ter into any philosphic defense of Chris
tianity, but to show that the attacks of Col
onel Ingersol upon the Bible were really
aimed at'that upon which rests the entire
foundation of the prosperity of our country
and the happiness of our people. The
speaker affirmed that Colonel Ingersol con-
stantly sets up imaginary evils as incident
throw those creations Of his own distorted
fancy. The speaker gave an extract from
one of Colonel IngersoPs lectures, contain
ing some very strong indictments against
Christianity, and showed their utter falsity
or absurdlty. General Sheridan referred to
the pronounced religious character of those
who laid the foundations of this great ma
tiOn. and declared with emphatic
truth that we shall look in vain
for an infidel mind among, the
hosts of those who stood foremost In the
great deeds that glorify the early history of
this republic. 1t was religious men and
women that settled this country; that
founded our schools and colleges; that es-
tablished our free institutions; that have
made our land the freest. happiest noblest
region on this earth. Col. lDgersPs inabil-
ity to comprehend God, and nature, and the
wonderful forces of the universe, is due to
the limited extent of his own powers rather
than to the nature of the truths which he
SO summarily rejects. Col. Ingersoll declares
that he knows nothing whatever of God /;
and yet he proceeds to Sit in judgment upon
the divine character and WORKS. He exhib-
its an intense hatred of all pertaining to
God and religion; and yet he does not pre-
tend to offer any substitute for God and
Christianity. He thinks we have no need of
God, nothing but nature or eternal matter I:
but the Christian feels the need of God-of
an Intelligent, benevolent, almighty being
who has designed and sustained this system
OF the universe. What does Col. IngerSol
found his opinion upon, that there Is no
God? He affirms that he knows noth-
ing, about him. He also declaims
against the Bible, affirming that compara-
lively few have ever seen it, fewer still have
read and believed it; and yet he attributes
to it SO vast an influence over the destinies
of men. Col. IngersoPs theories would de-
stroy all that is held most precious by the
millions who have trusted their welfare for
both worlds to the sustaining and consOling
truths of the Word of God. For this sus.
tanning faith he would commend to his fell
low men the cold and heartless rawlings of a
distempered mind, and the sacrilegious utter
ances OF heart estranged from God. From
fidel mind we turn with delight to the great
truths of that book that consoles us amid the
griefs and disappointments of this life and
throws upon the darkness of the tomb the
light and joy of an immortal life.